Kuna Joint School District board elects new chair, makes key appointments and assigns committees

Michael Thornton was elected chair of the Kuna Joint School District No. 3 board of trustees during the board’s reorganizational meeting. Trustees voted on the leadership slate after swearing in two new trustees; the chair motion carried by a 3–2 vote and Thornton assumed the gavel.

The board appointed Jonathan Gillen as district treasurer and Deanne Greaney as district clerk after separate motions and affirmative votes. Trustees also approved the district’s 2026 regular meeting schedule — the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the district conference room at 711 East Porter Street — and designated official public posting locations, including the district office, district website and social channels, the Kuna post office, Kuna city hall and the Kuna community library.

Trustees spent substantial time assigning representatives to standing and ad hoc committees. Negotiations, calendar, safety, wellness and capital-planning roles were discussed; several trustees agreed to continue in existing committee roles while nominations were made for new assignments. The board nominated JD Grant to serve on the required wellness committee and agreed to appoint a trustee representative to the Kuna Education Foundation, with the intention to revisit the foundation appointment if necessary.

The board repeatedly emphasized clarifying expectations for committees before committing long-term. Multiple trustees noted that some committees require more frequent attendance and active participation — for example, the education foundation meets monthly and works on teacher-support projects and small scholarships — and said they would revisit assignments as needed.

The reorganization and appointments followed procedural motions and recorded votes taken during the meeting.